Prostitution in Angola is illegal [ 1 ] [ 2 ] and prevalent since the s. Many women engage in prostitution due to poverty.
Prostitution is widespread in the oil-rich Cabinda Province , [ 4 ] where many American and other foreign nationals work. It is named after its late owner, a sex worker. Child prostitution is a problem in the country. Angola hosted the Africa Cup of Nations. There were fears that the increased demand for prostitutes from the visiting fans would lead to a surge in human trafficking.
The organising committee, LOC, initially tried to have all the prostitutes removed from the cities hosting games, but this did not prove to be practical. In conjunction with the Health Commission in Angola, they distributed 5 million free condoms to bars, hotels and other strategic locations. However, it has one of the lowest prevalence rates in the Southern Africa zone. The reluctance to use condoms is a contributing factor.
Human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Angola, and traffickers exploit victims from Angola abroad.
Angolan girls as young as 13 years old are victims of sex trafficking. The provinces of Luanda , Benguela , and the border provinces of Cunene , Lunda Norte , Namibe , Uige , and Zaire are the most high-threat areas for trafficking activities. Traffickers exploit Angolan women and children in sex trafficking in South Africa , Namibia , and European countries, including the Netherlands and Portugal.
